One round, two rounds, three rounds.
Through the sixfold speed achieved by burning his life force, Shirou was now far faster than Saber.
With every clash, Dragon Slayer left another slash mark on the girl's black armor.
Black Saber's stance gradually collapsed, but her magical armor would probably crumble before she did.
Shirou drew a deep breath. "Good. I'll drive her into a corner in one go—"
"...Tyrant's Hammer (Vortigern)."
The black King of Knights, driven into a corner, whispered softly.
"!!"
Shirou had been prepared.
Before he was swallowed by the roaring Black Flame, he leaped backward, opening up some distance.
The boy's evasion looked almost like teleportation. That might have worked against the blue Artoria, but her black form had no way to pursue him.
By the time Black Saber looked toward Shirou again, he had already raised his right arm and begun charging power.
"—Dragon Bullet (Dragon Shoot)!!"
A dragon's dusk-colored breath surged forth once more.
Caught off guard, Black Saber had no choice but to raise the Reversed Holy Sword and block the Magic Bullet head-on.
Because he had had very little time to gather magical power, the Magic Bullet was far weaker than before. Even so, Black Saber was sent flying.
"...Ugh!"
It was the first time in her life that she had landed on her back.
The pain and impact from behind roused Black Saber from her brief unconsciousness. She discovered that her Reversed Holy Sword was gone—
It had been knocked several meters away when she blocked the Magic Bullet just now.
Black Saber awkwardly propped up her upper body, but Shirou had no intention of giving her a chance to turn things around.
"I'm sorry, Saber!"
The red-haired boy leaped over. After a brief hesitation, he swung his arm.
His left fist,